"It blew me away about her," she said. "I felt so terrible but so proud about her and her decision."

Mount is on her third round of chemotherapy.

She only expects to live another year.

"If had I known that, having the BRCA gene, I could have prevented all of this, I would have absolutely had both my breasts removed," Mount said.

Mount only found out that sh had the so-called "breast cancer gene" after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Doctors say people with the gene have an 87 percent chance of getting breast cancer. Half will get ovarian cancer.

Mount had a double mastectomy to fight her cancer. She had a hysterectomy to prevent ovarian cancer.

"I have lived 8 years without breasts and I have to say, I never wear prosthesis, I am who I am and I am lucky to be alive every day," she said.

Wendy Hunter at the Willamette Valley Cancer Institute says it is not uncommon for women who test positive for the BRCA gene to choose surgery, but not everyone is considered an ideal candidate for testing.

"It's women who are diagnosed at young ages, or people with multiple family history," Hunter said.

Complete tests for genetic risk for breast cancer can run $4,000. Insurance may cover the tests for women with multiple risk factors.

Hunter said women who have the gene and don't choose surgery often opt to increase their breast cancer screenings.